Kaliningrad, July 12, 2015 – Russia defeated Turkey 3-1 (26-24, 17-25, 25-23, 25-21) in their FIVb World Grand Prix clash on Sunday evening.
The match started tightly, with the sides trading points. Nataliya Goncharova and Kseniia Ilchenko grounded well for the home team, with Polen Uslupehlivan and Kebra Akman replying for the Turks. But the Russians edged ahead just at the end of the set, winning it 26-24.
Turkey struck back in set two, and a great streak of Turkish attacks and Russian mistakes mid-set did the damage: the visitors took it 25-17. But Russia regrouped, and with Alexandra Pasynkova serving well and Olga Biryukova spiking, they won set three 25-23.
And they took their form into the fourth set. With Ekaterina Lyubushkina joining a rampant Goncharova in the points, Russia took the final set 25-21, and the match, 3-1.
Nataliya Goncharova was the top scorer in the match with 28 points. Polen Uslupehlivan got 22 for Turkey. Follow our live match text commentary
here